The Hanshin Tigers signed him after the 1988 season, paying him $1,050,000 ($1,968,644 today), including a chauffeur and a full-time interpreter. More than the money, he said, he went to Japan for the opportunity to play every day.[citation needed] In the beginning of spring training, Fielder had a difficult time adjusting to Japan's baseball culture, however, with the help of Tiger manager Minoru Murayama and Junichi Kashiwabara, he became adjusted to the new environment. The Tigers offered Fielder the position of cleanup hitter, and he became a hero to the local baseball fans, who nicknamed him "Wild Bear"[citation needed] (wild, in Japan, is the image of power; bear, for his hulking presence).

Fielder, built for power at 6-foot-3 and 280 pounds, gained the Detroit Tigers' attention by hitting 38 home runs in Japan's Central League in 1989, and he returned to the U.S. Once again in the majors with Detroit Tigers, Fielder, with his 51-homer, 132 RBI year in 1990, became one of the biggest stories of the season – and perhaps the biggest bargain in the sport (he earned $1.25 million). On the last day of the Tigers' season at Yankee Stadium, Fielder hit his 50th and 51st home runs to become the 11th player in ML history – and only the second in the previous 25 years – to reach the 50-HR plateau.[1] No Detroit Tigers player had turned the mark since Hank Greenberg slugged 58 in 1938, and no Tiger player has reached 50 HR since. Fielder, whose previous high mark was 14 with Toronto in 1987, provided a sudden and unexpected emergence as a legitimate slugger. In addition to his 51 homers, Fielder also led the American League in RBI and total bases (339) that season. In 1990, Fielder also became the fourth American League player to ever have two 3-home run games in a season.

With his 44 home runs in 1991, Cecil joined Hank Greenberg (1937–38) as the only Tiger players at that time to hit 40 or more homers in consecutive seasons.[2] (Miguel Cabrera joined Fielder and Greenberg in 2012–13.) Fielder repeated as AL RBI champion with 133 driven in that season. In 1992, Fielder avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a 1-year, $4.5 million contract, which at the time set a record for highest salary by an arbitration-eligible player. Fielder responded by leading the league in RBI (124) for the third consecutive season, becoming the first American Leaguer since Babe Ruth to do so.[3]

During the 1990s, Fielder built a reputation for clutch hitting and power, though the Tigers continued to be no better than mediocre. His team's fates possibly hurt him with MVP voters. Rickey Henderson and Cal Ripken, Jr. narrowly edged him for the AL's MVP Award in 1990 and 1991, respectively. His new fans in Detroit nicknamed him "Big Daddy" for his big smile, peaceful temperament, and prodigious home runs (as well as his massive physical stature).[4][5]

In his six-year tenure with Detroit, Fielder had four consecutive 30-homer and 100-RBI seasons, and if the 1994 season had not been strike-shortened he almost certainly would have had another (he had 28 HRs and 90 RBI in 109 games that year). He also became the first Tiger ever to hit at least 25 homers in six consecutive seasons. No player in Detroit history hit as many over a six-year period (219) until Miguel Cabrera hit 227 in 2008–13, and no major league player had more home runs between 1990 and 1995.

Fielder was a member of the All-Star Team in 1990, 1991, and 1993. Fielder was named "Tiger of the Year" by the Detroit chapter of the BBWAA in 1990, 1991, and 1992. He is the only player to receive the award three consecutive years.[6]

Fielder had a reputation as something of a slow baserunner.[8] In 1996 set a major league record by taking 1,096 games to record his first career stolen base, which occurred on a botched hit and run. He stole another base that season as well, and finished his career with 2 stolen bases over 13 seasons and 1,470 games.[4] Fielder also had a reputation as a below average fielder, mostly caused by his poor speed and range. He was however, considered a competent defensive first baseman when it came to putouts and digging infield assists out of the dirt.

In October 2004, The Detroit News reported that Fielder was suffering from domestic and gambling problems. They relied on court documents from Fielder's divorce and a lawsuit brought against him by Trump Plaza Hotel and Casinos in New Jersey describing debts to various casinos, credit card companies and banks.[11] Fielder later filed a libel suit against Gannett, the parent company of The Detroit News, and the lead reporter, Fred Girard, accusing them of slander and defamation of character. The suit sought US$25 million in damages and fees. The trial court dismissed the suit and the Michigan Court of Appeals affirmed the decision.[12]

Fielder's son Prince is a first baseman, formerly with the Milwaukee Brewers, then with the Detroit Tigers, and now with the Texas Rangers. Fielder was originally involved in his son's professional career, even negotiating his first contract. Because Cecil insisted upon getting a part of Prince's salary as a reward for assisting him, Prince and his family were no longer on speaking terms with Cecil.[1] In a 2012 interview, Cecil Fielder said that he and Prince had recently begun speaking again, and that their relationship was improving.[13] On September 25, 2007, Prince hit his 50th home run of the season, making Cecil and Prince the only father/son duo in Major League history to each reach the milestone.